Chicago Coming in Hot and Humid

Last weekend I took a trip to Chicago and guess what my new favorite city is, yes it's Chicago! The people are so great, the food is delicious and the buildings are in abundance. Also maybe I'm an idiot or maybe I'm from the west and no one tells you small aspects of cities further away, but Chicago has a beach! Like wait best all around city in the world.

The first night I got there I took the cta to my hotel and now looking back I realize how unnecessary my fear of finding my hotel was because this is the real world and there are smart phones and people to ask for directions. So I found it (obviously) and it was amazing!

Chicago Harbor

On Friday I went to the Art Institute of Chicago and it was really hot and humid, but absolutely beautiful out. The museum was amazing, filled with masterpieces abound.

Joan Mitchell, City Landscape

Claude Monet, Water Lilies

I had a chicago dog for lunch which was just so dang good. Even though by this time I felt like a local (in other words, not needing my maps very often), I found I was totally not a local because I should have gotten the Italian beef. You live and you learn.
That night I tried Lou Malnati's, a highly recommended pizza restaurant and while I was waiting for my order I chatted with this great group of people also waiting to be seated. Firstly they had some serious rims on their car. Secondly their 4 year old Jason was one hell of a guy. The dad started talking to me about Utah Jazz players and I tried to act like I knew what he was talking about because I wanted to look cool, of course. Anyway this story goes to further exemplify how great the people are there, if you couldn't tell.

Saturday I spent roaming the city with local legend and tour guide Ben Hannon. Its just the best city to walk around in. I looked up and saw the Willis Tower from the ground because the line was 45 hours long to go to the top, but it looked pretty tall. Instead we went to the Hancock building and got the 360 view on top which was super cool. Not only did I see several roof top pools, but also the beach!! Really I am still so shocked and thrilled there's a beach in Chicago.

Tour guide Ben

That is one tall ass building

My girl Natalie Sweeney drove down for Saturday night and we enjoyed the hotel's complementary wine hour that preceded an awesome pizza dinner and more wine. Best friends catching up, how can that not be fun? When we returned from dinner, Ben and his friends met up with us at the hotel for drinks on the roof then going out to the bars. I can't speak for all of them, but I had such a great time.

I have deemed Chicago the greatest city in the U.S. and well if you go there I'm positive you'll feel the same. The culture is live with art, music and food and really who doesn't love all of those things immensely? I dream of living there as soon as possible.

A Mexican themed week

And holy smokes what a week its been. Not only was it Cinco de Mayo (one hell of a holiday in my books), my sister and several of my friends graduated. I'm so proud of them. I remember graduating and thinking it wasn't anything special, but it certainly is recent graduates and don't think anything otherwise.
So Cinco de Mayo was pretty jam packed. I had my first day of my new copywriting internship (which I love and will tell you all more about soon enough). I also had to nanny some little kids who I absolutely adore. During my break between interning and nannying I dropped my sister off at our friends house to begin the Cinco de Mayo party and boy did that get me excited for what I could actually participate in come 6:00 pm. If I told you I didn't count down the hours until then, I'd be one heck of a liar.

Just a couple of friends having one heck of a time on Cinco de Mayo

If you've read any of my other posts you'll know how I feel about friends, food and fun. If you haven't read my other posts (maybe get on that, they're funny and interesting), I love all of those things immensely. That is exactly what the celebration consisted of. Yes, it rained. No, we didn't mind (much). There were yard games and cervezas and eventually some borrachos eating nachos. I can't think of a Cinco de Mayo I didn't enjoy. I also attempted to speak Spanish at one point which ended in me humiliating myself, but I did succeed in getting others to speak Spanish which I love listening to. So winner winner chicken dinner would probably be me.

Graduation weekend was super fun. All of my family came out to visit and we celebrated and ate until we couldn't eat anymore and then we ate some more. What a wonderful time it is to see folks you haven't seen in awhile and just simply be together enjoying each others company. Its like something out of a story. I also had the privilege of meeting some of my friends parents that were so kind and eager to listen to your story. How nice it is to be heard. We drank some beverages, ate some cake and marveled at bouquets cut from the garden.

HELLO SALT LAKE CITY

Sisters and a Cow

Flowers at the Grand America

Talking to all the graduates made me remember just how terrifying graduation can be. So many 'what do I do now?'s and I wanted to reassure each person who felt this way that they would be okay, everything would work itself out. However, that is the sort of thing that doesn't bring much reassurance because its only truly realized after the fact. Nonetheless, I did my best to express just how proud I was of each and everyone of them, its not always expressed enough.
Anyway, so its essentially summer. I pretty much deem it summer when I start sweating on a regular basis. So I can't wait to spend some time doing all the outdoor things I just love. I hope all of you are getting out there as well!

Margaritas with the graduate!

Dad, Bobo and Uncle John happy as clams eating some Mexican food

HGD Boh Boh!

Natalie and her dad, Terry.
Just wonderful people!

3 chicks who graduated college

The Pizza That Brings The People Together

So the other day, after a last minute text message, I jumped off the couch I had been laying on since I don't know when (just kidding, it was like 20 minutes) and ran to my car because of how thrilled I was to finally see the house my best friend from high school had bought in this crazy city of Salt Lake. While the reality of the situation was far less dramatic, for instance I have only run to my car once that I could remember and that was because I thought I was late, the thrill I had was still there. A little background I suppose?

Jessica (or Yarm as she is known frequently and in my case most commonly) and Matt are that really cool couple who toured Eastern Europe together and went just about everywhere one could hope to go and while doing so took amazingly beautiful photos and wrote a blog I actually very much wanted to read which doesn't happen often. They have a golden retriever named Lola that is actually more of a model than anyone I know, yet she has no idea of her beauty, well maybe a little in that everyone loves her and she loves that. And Matt's alter ego, Jeano, makes the worlds BEST wood fired pizza, that they share far and wide like the kind souls they are.

The prosciutto, pear and fresh mozzarella!
My favorite would have to be the Margherita because I'm a classics chick.   

This night I also had the privilege of seeing my other best friend from high school also named Jessica, yes sometimes it got confusing, and her fiancé Alex. They are v perfect for each other.
('v': a term translated closely to mean 'very' that Alex is plaguing the english language with.)

The crew.
This is a special shot because Matt actually had a moment to eat some of the pizza he slaves over.

Not only was I able to have my favorite Jeano's, but they also had some tasty appetizers, excellent conversation and homemade cinnamon infused lemonade. Oh shoot there was also a most delectable oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that my stomach understandably made room for after like a hundred pieces of pizza. I can't remember how many times I've said this because I have a horrible memory, but I absolutely love food and it makes me so happy to share meals with people. The meals can be anything from extravagant steak dinners at my dads favorite casino to the time my friends and I ate yogurt and plastic bottled wine for dinner on our last night in Paris because we ran out of money.

The model who maybe moved as I was taking the picture and doesn't normally have a blur for a nose

And now as I sit in my dungeon-like basement room on my (terribly comfy) bed I think how wonderful friends, including all of you of course duh, transform nights of expected couch lounging into something far more social and far more fun and I just love that!

Disclaimer: I'm in no way knocking couch lounging, a favored pastime of mine.

Disclaimer #2: Really drink in that exclamation mark I just used because they don't happen very often.

Who would I be without a blurry picture of a dog licking my face

Friends and The Stories We Tell

Seasonal friendships are tough.

Friends are like lifesavers, the candy and the floatation device. Sweet and they keep you afloat (similes are not my strong suit as you can see). Where would we be without them? Seriously, friends are my favorite. I was almost too tired to finish this because of all the fun I had with them this weekend. Friends, food and fun. Some of my absolute favorite things (food especially). Whether it be a thrilling night out, a day in the sun, or a lengthy lounge session watching endless Netflix, its a good time. I couldn't ask for better friends. Shout out to all the homies! You know who you are. Also, shout out to all the food out there as well!

Brighton closing day, one hell of a time. Photo: Erik Overson

Warning: heavy material ahead, bring your hard hats. HA HA HA
I'm not entirely sure why this happens so frequently, I like to think people generally trust me with sensitive information, but honestly I couldn't tell ya. Regardless of why, I have been witness to many a story I wasn't sure I should be privileged to hear, but sat quietly listening as they seemed to hope I would. These stories paired with those I've read in books have taught me to be utterly amazed with the way in which people are. So many people have endured so many things that break my heart simply hearing about. And yet on they move with the turning of the earth because that's how it goes. Honestly where would be if the world didn't go as such. What I mean to say with all of this is that people are extraordinary. Tell your stories and tell them with heart and know that we are listening, well I am at least.
A quote I love by Markus Zusak, "It amazes me what humans can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on, coughing and searching, and finding."

Remember this? Confession: I think I willed it into being.

When your dinner is wine and cheese.

I leave you with something the four year old girl I nanny and adore said to me the other day, "I wonder what its like to be a boy and a dog." Because really I would love to know as well.